Information distributing method and information distributing system

ABSTRACT

In order to allow an advertisement company to register advertisement information using the Internet and conduct publicity activities aimed at specified target users, profile data of a plurality of users is managed using a database, selection conditions for selecting specific users to whom advertisement information should be distributed are received, specific users to whom the advertisement information should be distributed are selected based on the received selection conditions and the managed profile data, and the advertisement information is distributed to the selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information distributing system andan information distributing method for distributing various informationvia the Internet. In addition, the present invention includes atechnology relating to a system for realizing a printing service bycausing a printing apparatus connected to a set top box (STB) of eachhome to print print information utilizing a two-way broad bandcommunication network such as a cable television system.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, as a personal computer has become inexpensive andpersonal computers have been introduced into many homes, a personalcomputer is widely used for enjoying the Internet at home by connectingthe personal computer to telephone lines. However, for those who havenot operated personal computers yet, operation of a personal computer iscomplicated and may not be accepted easily. It has been proposed thatsuch people who do not have personal computers connect to the Internetusing televisions for home use because operation of such televisions iseasy. A representative example is the WebTV provided by MicrosoftCorporation. The WebTV can be operated by a user as if the user operateda television using a remote controller. In addition, the WebTV has aconfiguration with which a user can connect to the Internet viatelephone lines using the Windows CE and a browser installed in aset-top box (STB) of the WebTV.

In addition, in recent years, cable televisions are in wide use inJapan, and an increasing number of cable television companies offerInternet services using cable television lines that are two-way broadband communication networks. In a cable broadcasting system, a lot oftelevision or radio programs, or contents such as those of shopping aresent as images, voices and character data and are received by eachdigital broadcast receiving apparatus through many channels. Characterdata is received together with a program itself (images and voices),which are included in a transmission signal. In addition, a line usagefee of an ordinary cable television is paid when a user makes connectionto the Internet using this cable line. Thus, there is an advantage inthat the user can connect to the Internet without paying a calling fee,and can access information of all over the world via the Internet usinga television for home use free of charge or by only paying a charge aslow as a general provider charge. In addition, since a broad bandcommunication network is used, data transmission of a large capacity canbe performed in a short time. Thus, Internet services using cabletelevision lines are in wide use not only in Japan but also in otherregions of the world.

In addition, a mechanism has been devised in which a printer isconnected to an STB of a conventional WebTV and printing is performed bythe printer in order to obtain print output of a screen displayed on theWebTV. In this case, a printer driver of a simple configuration isprovided in an NVRAM of the STB to output data to an ink-jet printer asbitmap data of low resolution that is close to display resolution. Thus,even if the printer responds to high resolution, a result of printing islow in quality when an output of a bitmap image is performed.

That is, the conventional WebTV accesses the Internet, displaysinformation desired by a user on the WebTV, generates a raster image oflow resolution from the information using the printer driver in the STBto output the raster image to a low function printer. Thus, there is aproblem in that a resulting print image has low resolution of the samelevel as display resolution of a TV display, and contents such as aphotograph cannot be obtained in a form that satisfies the user.

In addition, a user accesses the Internet from a WebTV to displaydesired information, and then causes a printer to print the informationby a printing instruction using a remote controller or the like.Therefore, the user needs to always retrieve required information byaccessing the Internet, which is a significant burden for the user.Moreover, since a lot of users are likely to make an access during aperiod of time when a general user makes an access, there is a problemin that it takes long to retrieve or download information due toincreased loads to a provider or a communication network. In addition,since a large load is applied to the printer driver in the STB duringprint processing, there is a problem in that a television screen freezesand the user cannot perform other operations.

In addition, since information that a user desires on the Internet isoften included in a plurality of different home pages, the user needs toobtain necessary information by tracing each home page and print theinformation every time the user finds it. Thus, there is a problem inthat the user has to bear significant burdens and it takes long time toobtain the information. Moreover, since the user prints necessaryinformation every time the information is found even if littleinformation is required, there also is a problem in that the number ofprinted sheets increases and costs of expendable supplies amount to alarge sum.

In addition, an advertisement company that wishes to advertise somethingto many users cannot do anything but wait for users to access his homepage or other home pages on which a banner advertisement is inserted.Thus, the advertisement company has to insert a banner advertisementlinked to its own home page in many home pages to increase the number ofusers who access the home page on which the advertisement is inserted.Therefore, there is a problem in that the advertisement company cannoteasily place an advertisement to users targeted for promotion. Inaddition, since the advertisement company only shows an advertisement toa user who visits the home page and cannot specify an age of a user or aregion where the user lives to place an advertisement, efficiency islow. In addition, in order to realize a user-specified advertisement,the advertisement company can only advertise by direct mailsconventionally. Thus, there is a problem in that costs such as costs ofpaper for direct mails, personell expenses, postage increase, or thelike.

In addition, a provider of information such as a home page on theInternet can receive an advertisement fee from an advertisement companyin return for insertion of a banner advertisement, and also can receivean contents fee in return for provision of contents (information).However, there is a problem in that, for an information provider whosehome page users do not frequently visit, this does not pay as abusiness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems,and it is a first object of the present invention to realize a printimage of high resolution with a printer connected to an STB (set-topbox) of a TV for home use.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a mechanismwith which a user collects desired information via the Internet andactively outputs the collected information as print information, therebypassively obtaining a desired print image. It is also an object of thepresent invention to provide a mechanism with which a user passivelyreceives print data at a designated time via the Internet and prints thereceived print data.

It is a third object of the present invention to reduce burdens on auser and costs of expendable supplies by collectively laying outinformation desired by the user and existing in various locations on theInternet to generate distribution information and distributing thedistribution information.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a mechanismwith which active distribution processing with high security can berealized by distributing distribution information from an informationproviding company using a private line of a cable television.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a mechanismthat allows an advertisement company to register advertisementinformation using the Internet and conduct publicity activities aimed atspecified target users.

An information distributing method of the present invention forattaining the above-mentioned first object is provided with, forexample, the following configuration. That is, an informationdistributing method using a cable line for digital broadcasting, whichcomprises: an identification step for identifying a type of a printingapparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user; an obtainingstep for obtaining data that should be printed for specific users; aselection step for selecting a printer driver corresponding to theprinting apparatus based on the identification information; a generationstep for generating, using the selected printer driver, printinformation that should be printed by the printing apparatus of thespecific users from the obtained data that should be printed; and adistribution step for distributing the generated print information to aset-top box of the specific users via the cable line.

In addition, an information distributing method of the present inventionfor attaining the above-mentioned second object is provided with, forexample, the following configuration. That is, an informationdistributing method of distributing print information to specific usersbased on information to be obtained via the Internet, which comprises: amanagement step for managing selection conditions for selectingdistribution information which is obtained from the specific users inadvance; a collection step for collecting distribution information thatshould be distributed to the specific users from the informationobtained via the Internet based on the managed selection conditions; ageneration step for generating print information that should be printedby the specific users based on the above-mentioned collecteddistribution information; and a distribution step for activelydistributing the generated print information to the specific users.

In addition, an information distributing method of the present inventionfor attaining the above-mentioned third object is provided with, forexample, the following configuration. That is, an informationdistributing method for distributing desired information to specificusers, which comprises: a receiving step for receiving selectionconditions for selecting desired contents information from specificusers; a selection step for selecting contents information that shouldbe distributed to the specific users based on the above-mentionedreceived selection conditions out of contents information collected froma plurality of sites via the Internet; a generation step for laying outthe selected contents information collected from the plurality of sitesas one file to generate distribution information; and a distributionstep for distributing the generated distribution information to thespecific users.

In addition, an information distributing method of the present inventionfor attaining the above-mentioned fourth object is provided with, forexample, the following configuration. That is, an informationdistributing method of distributing print information via a cablenetwork for a digital broadcasting system to a user who has a set-topbox for transferring received print information to a connected printingapparatus, which comprises: a receiving step for receiving distributioninformation that should be distributed to a user designated by aninformation distribution server; a generation step for generating printinformation based on the received distribution information for eachuser; and a distribution step for distributing the print informationgenerated for each user to the set-top box of the designated userutilizing the cable network.

In addition, an information distributing method of the present inventionfor attaining the above-mentioned fifth object is provided with, forexample, the following configuration. That is, an informationdistributing method of distributing advertisement information to begenerated at an advertisement company to a plurality of users to beselected, which comprises: a management step for managing profile dataof a plurality of users using a database; a receiving step for receivingselection conditions for selecting specific users to whom advertisementinformation should be distributed; a selection step for selecting thespecific users to whom advertisement information should be distributedbased on the received selection conditions and the managed profile data;and a distribution step for distributing advertisement information tothe selected specific users utilizing a digital broadcasting system.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is an infrastructure diagram of a printing system of the presentinvention using a digital broadcast;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an STBand a printer;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a CHE;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a BPSserver;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a flow of entire processing in thepresent invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate user interface that is displayed on a browserwhen contents of objects of distribution in a contents server areregistered in the BPS server;

FIG. 7 is an image view showing contents laid out in the BPS server;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing first control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 9 is a data diagram showing contents of a customer profile to beregistered in a customer database of the BPS;

FIG. 10 illustrates a user interface to be displayed on a TV screen whenregistration of desired contents is processed in the STB;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing control processing in the CHE;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing control processing in the STB;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing registration processing of advertisementdistribution in an advertisement company (AD);

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate user interface to be displayed on a browserwhen registration of advertisement distribution is processed in theadvertisement company;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing second control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing third control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing fourth control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing processing of connection to a portalsite from the STB;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing control processing in a portal siteserver;

FIG. 20 illustrates a user interface showing an expendable suppliesrequest screen displayed on a TV via the STB by an HTML documenttransmitted from the portal site server;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing fifth control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing sixth control processing in the BPSserver;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing seventh control processing in the BPSserver; and

FIG. 24 is an image view for illustrating a charging mechanism in thesystem of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following embodiment, an information distribution system will bedescribed in which a BPS (Broadband Printing Service) for performingmain control of the present invention collects contents information onthe Internet and transfers the information to a cable television headend of a cable television company, and the cable head end multicasts theinformation to each user (monocast is also possible) in a digitalbroadcasting system with which contents are transmitted via a two-waybroad band communication network. According to this embodiment, thesystem is a system for allowing a user to obtain a print image of highresolution using a printer connected to an STB (set-top box) of a TV forhome use.

An infrastructure configuration for realizing an embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 1 denotes a BPSserver having a characteristic mechanism of the present invention. Printinformation required for distribution is sent to the BPS server 1 from aprovider of information (a request for advertisement, a request fordistribution of documents such as contents provider and a payment slip)on a company side being an information provider through the Internet 4and via an Internet proxy server 5. As the information provider, thereare advertisement company servers 2 a and 2 b to which an advertisementrequest is sent, and contents servers 3 a and 3 b of a bank that holdspayment slip and account entry information, a newspaper publishingcompany that holds event news and sports article information, a companythat holds contents such as photographs and novels, and the like.

Here, as print information that the BPS server 1 obtains, there areadvertisement information such as an advertisement and a coupon that theadvertisement company wishes to send to each user from the advertisementcompany server 2 a and 2 b, and contents information such as imagecontents, a bank deposit statement, a payment slip, a sports article orthe like that a user desires to collect from each of the contentsservers 3 a and 3 b.

The BPS server 1 collects advertisement information obtained from eachof the advertisement company servers 2 a and 2 b and content informationobtained from each of the contents servers 3 a and 3 b over the Internet4. In addition, set-top boxes 11 a to 11 c (hereinafter referred to asSTB) of each user obtain identification information of a printer 12 thatis connected to the STBs, and uploads the information to a cable headend 8 (a server of a cable television company; hereinafter referred toas CHE 8). The CHE 8 gives an ID of each client user and theidentification information of the printer to the BPS server 1, and theBPS server 1 retains the obtained information in a user profile database6 (hereinafter referred to as the user profile DB 6). User individualinformation and contents history information to be described later aswell as a P-point (print point) are stored in the user profile DB 6,which are updated appropriately. In addition, the BPS server 1 retains aplurality of general printer drivers, which are supposed to be used byusers of this system, in a printer driver database 7 (hereinafterreferred to as printer driver DB 7).

The BPS server 1 generates print information of a print image suitablefor a destination user from the collected advertisement information andcontents information. This processing is realized by the BPS server 1accessing the user profile DB 6 in which information peculiar to theuser is stored to obtain identification information of a printer 12owned by a user being a destination of the print information andselecting a corresponding printer driver out of the printer driver DB 7in order to recognize the printer 12 of the destination user.

The BPS server 1 reads the selected printer driver from the printerdriver DB 7, activates the printer driver and rasterizes advertisementinformation and contents information to be distributed to develop theinformation in a rasterized image that can directly drive the printer.The rasterized print information prepared for each user in this way issent to the CHE 8 from the BPS server 1. The CHE 8 multiplexes therasterized print information received form the BPS server 1 togetherwith information of a BS/CS broadcast, a ground wave broadcast, aself-produced program broadcast or the like, and forwards themultiplexed information to a cable network 9. A hub 10 (HUB) isinstalled in the cable network 9, which distributes a broad band signalthat is transmitted by the cable network 9 to users in a specific area.An STB 11 of a user is connected to the hub 10 via a cable line 9 a, andthe user receives the broad band signal transmitted from the CHE 8 viathe STB 11.

The broad band signal received in the STB 11 via the cable line 9 a isseparated into TV information consisting of video and audio and therasterized print information distributed from the BPS server 1 by amultiple signal separation technology. The TV information is sent to aTV monitor 13 and displayed on a display to be viewed. The rasterizedprint information is transferred to the printer 12 without beingdisplayed on a display 13, and the print information is printed to beoutput to a recording medium 14 by the printer 12.

In addition, as described above, various statuses and identificationinformation of the printer 12 at the times of printing and not printingcan be sent to the CHE 8 via the STB 11 making use of the cable network9 being a two-way communication network. In the CHE 8, the BPS server 1can find the status of the printer 12 on a real time basis bydemodulating the statuses and the identification information to sendthem to the BPS server 1.

In addition, although the CHE 8 and the BPS server 1 are described asdifferent devices in FIG. 1, in the case in which the CHE 8 and the BPSserver 1 preferably exist in the same place but actually exist indifferent places, the printer driver DB 7 may exist under the CHE 8. Inthis case, the BPS server 1 specifies a user and a printer driver tosend contents information to the CHE 8, and the CHE 8 reads a suitableprinter driver from the printer driver DB to generate print informationand distributes the print information to a specific STB.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the STB 11 and the printer 12 in thepresent invention. A broad band multiple signal forwarded from the CHE 8is inputted in the STB 11 via the cable line 9 a. In a demodulationblock, the broadband multiple signal received in a tuner 15 as an RFsignal removes a carrier from a signal that is digitally modulated. TheCHE 8 adds a code for error correction to send the signal in order tocorrect an error in a transmission line as pre-processing fortransmission. An error correction block 17 corrects an error occurred inthe transmission line by using the error correction code added by theCHE 8. Information of a user, particularly information such as asubscribed channel is recorded in an IC card 21. Control information(ECM) and individual information (EMM) 22 that are detected in ade-scramble block are sent to the IC card 21. The IC card 21 comparesthe control information (ECM) and individual information (EMM) 22 withuser information registered in the IC card 21 to confirm coincidence,and forwards a decryption key 23 to the de-scramble block 18. Thechannel subscribed for by the user is reproduced when the user decryptsthe scramble for signal reproduction by the decryption key 23.

Then, the de-scrambled signal is inputted in a demultiplexer 19, andeach piece of multiplexed information of video, audio and printing isseparated. The separated video signal is decompressed by a video decoderto be an ordinary video signal 26 and outputted. In addition, theseparated audio signal is decompressed by an audio decoder to be anordinary audio signal 27 and outputted.

The print information of the present invention is restored as therasterized print information transmitted by the BPS server 1 via a printinformation decoder 25, and sent to the printer 12 via a serialinterface 26. The print information sent to the printer 12 is stored ina line buffer 31. The rasterized print information stored in the linebuffer 31 is sent to a printer engine 32 one after another, and isprinted on the recording medium 14 by a printer head 33. A statuscontroller 30 watches the printer engine 32, and sends a status such asoccurrence of an error, an end-of-print and a distribution request ofprint information to the STB 11. The STB 11 sends current statusinformation of the printer 12 to the BPS server 1 via the cable network9 and the CHE 8.

In this way, since print information printed and outputted by theprinter 12 is developed in a rasterized image by a corresponding printerdriver in the BPS server 1 or the CHE 8, the print output is as high inresolution as printing from a personal computer (an image is generatedwith a resolution of 1440×720 dpi in an ink-jet printer and resolutionof 600×600 dpi in a laser beam printer). Thus, in the mechanism of thisembodiment, a high resolution image is obtained to which an output by aconventional simple driver held in an STB cannot be comparable.

An internal configuration of the CHE 8 will now be described withreference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a digitalmodulation block for modulating broadcast information 34 to 36 anddistribution print information 37 in line with a transmission format.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an MOD1 for inputting a ground wavebroadcast, reference numeral 35 denotes an MOD2 for inputting a BS or aCS broadcast received by a parabolic antenna, reference numeral 36denotes an MOD3 for inputting a self-produced broadcast produced by acable TV station, and reference numeral 37 denotes an MOD4 for inputtingprint information sent from the BPS server 1 that is a characteristic ofthe present invention. Each of the digital modulation blocks MOD1 toMOD4, for example, modulates the information by 64 QAM, and sendsoutputs from the digital modulation blocks MOD2 to MOD4, which requirefurther scramble processing, to a scramble processing block 38 toscramble them. Each signal processed in this way is inputted in a mixprocessing block 39 and multiplexed.

The multiplexed signal is inputted in a downstream distributor 43 and isadded a modulation signal that is a multiplexed pilot signal fortransmission line gain control generated by a pilot signal generationblock 40. The multiplex modulation signal generated in this way is RFmodulated by the downstream distributor 43, and is sent to an opticalfiber cable 45. The optical fiber cable 45 is converted to an electricsignal by a photoelectric conversion block 47, and is sent to users in awide area via a coaxial cable 46 (cable network 9).

In addition, since two-way communication is possible with a cable line,user information (such as user individual information and printeridentification information) sent from the STB 11 is received by anupstream distributor 44, and is sent to a subscriber informationprocessing block 41. The user information in the subscriber informationprocessing block 41 is sent to the downstream distributor 43, forexample, as control information of a charge-type broadcast such as apay-per-view. In addition, status information of a printer of a userwhich is one characteristic of the present invention is also received bythe subscriber information processing block and is sent to the BPSserver 1.

An internal configuration of the BPS server 1 will now be described.FIG. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating an internal configurationmodule of the BPS server 1. Reference numeral 48 denotes a collectormodule for receiving print request information from the informationprovider (the advertisement company servers 2 a and 2 b, the contentsservers 3 a and 3 b) on a company side being the print informationprovider illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the case of an advertisement distribution request from theadvertisement company servers 2 a and 2 b, advertisement informationreceived from the advertisement company servers is accumulated andregistered in an advertisement database 50, and its attribute isaccumulated and registered in an advertisement attribute database 203.Contents information provided by the contents servers 3 a and 3 b isaccumulated and registered in a contents database 49, and its attributeis accumulated and registered in a contents attribute database 76.Concerning a distribution request for a document such as a payment slipand a bank deposit statement, text information in a payment slipdatabase 51 and its attribute are registered. Attribute profiles of manyusers in a destination are stored in the form of a table in theabove-mentioned user profile DB 6.

A distribution manager 60 analyzes the user profile DB 6, retrievesdistribution information that should be distributed for respective usersfrom the contents database 49, the advertisement database 50 and thepayment slip database 51, and obtains the information. Distributioninformation (including contents information, advertisement informationand payment slip information) that are determined to be distributed bythe distribution manager 60 is transferred to a distribution imagegenerator 53. A final distribution print information layout isdetermined as a print image by combining respective pieces of printinformation. The distribution print information completed in this way issent to a print information distribution engine 54. A correspondingprinter driver is read from the printer driver DB 7 after confirming aprinter model of a destination user, and the distribution printinformation is then rasterized by a rasterizer 56 to be held as arasterized image and waits for a distribution timing.

The distribution manager 60 obtains distribution time information thatis designated by a user in advance from the user profile DB 6, andinform a scheduler 55 of a timing (time) of distribution. When thedistribution time has come, the scheduler 55 notifies the printinformation distribution engine 54 and distributes print information tothe STB 11 of the destination user from the print informationdistribution engine 54 via an application server 57.

The STB 11 receives the print information and, upon completion ofprinting by the printer 12, returns an end-of-print status to theapplication server 57 via the cable network 9 and the CHE 8. A historyof print distribution is registered in a distribution record managermodule 61 from the print information distribution engine 54 and ismanaged. This history information of print distribution indicates thenumber of users who received the print information and a printdistribution information receipt status of each user, which can beaccurately arranged as data. Based on the data, an account engine 52performs charge and payment processing and processing for after-salesservice for expendable supplies or the like according to the number ofprint distribution information receipt points of the user. Details ofthe charge processing and the distribution processing of expendablesupplies according to the number of points will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a flow of entire processing of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 describes a summary of processing in theinformation providers 2 and 3, the BPS server 1 and the CHE 8.

First, in step S501, the information providers (the advertisementcompany server 2 and the contents server 3) access the BPS server 1using a browser on each server and via the Internet. The informationproviders log in the BPS server 1 in step S501 and input registration IDnumbers, passwords or the like. The BPS server approves the access basedon this information. Then, in step S502, the information providerstransfer contents to be distributed to users and contents attributeinformation to the BPS server 1 by “print contents & attributeinformation transfer”. The contents attribute information is such as agenre to which the contents belong and a keyword representing thecontents. The print contents sent via the Internet by “print contents &attribute information transfer” of step S502 are registered in thecontents database 49 of the BPS server 1, and the print contentsattribute information is registered in the contents attributeinformation database 203 (S503).

Subsequently, in step S504, determination processing of destinationusers according to attribute information is performed. The distributionmanager 60 in the BPS server 1 reads out the registered contentsattribute information from the content attribute information database203 and analyzes it. The distribution manager 60 also accesses the userprofile DB 6 and determines corresponding destination users. Whendestination users are determined, insertion processing of advertisementdata is executed in step S505. The distribution manager 60 obtainsadvertisement attribute information from an advertisement attributeinformation database 204. The distribution manager then accesses theuser profile DB 6 to determine an advertisement useful for thedestination users who have been determined in the preceding step, andobtains the determined advertisement from the advertisement database 50.Thus, destination users of the contents to be distributed and anadvertisement to be added for respective users are determined.

In step S506, layout determination processing of distributioninformation is executed. The distribution image generator 53 determinesa layout drawing suitable for a layout of combined contents andadvertisement for each destination user determined before from aplurality of layout drawings held in the not-shown layout DB. Then, thedistribution image generator 53 determines a layout in whichdistribution information to be eventually sent to the destination usersis arranged based on the layout drawing.

In step S507, the BPS server accesses the user profile DB 6, confirmsprinters of the destination users with reference to printeridentification information, and reads a printer driver corresponding tothe printers of the destination users from the printer driver DB 7.Then, in step S508, the BPS server converts a print image out of aplurality of pieces of distribution information (including advertisementinformation, contents information and payment slip information) to araster image (bitmap information) matched to the destination printers bythe rasterizer 56 using the printer driver read in the previous stepsuch that the print image is arranged in the layout already determined.This processing is performed for each user. Preparation of printinformation for distribution ends in this way.

In step S509, the BPS server 1 obtains states of the printers of thedestination users to whom the information is about to be distributed,and determines whether the printers can print. More specifically, astatus request signal is sent to the printer 12 from the BPS server 1via the STB 11. The printer 12 having received this signal notifies theSTB 11 of the current state of the printer 12, and the STB 11 returnsthe printer state to the BPS server 1 via the CHE 8.

In step S509, if it is determined that the printer 12 of the destinationuser is in the state in which it cannot print (another print job beingexecuted, running out of paper or running out of ink), or if a status isnot returned, processing advances to step S516, the distribution recordmanager module 61 of the BPS server 1 registers the print informationthat was intended to be distributed and its job ID as unprocessed, andmanages it. A printer status ID showing a status of the printer 12 indetail is added to information to be notified from the STB 11. In stepS517, the BPS server 1 starts a retransmission task based on thisprinter status ID and the job ID, and terminates the process.

If it is determined that the printer 12 of the destination user is inthe state in which it can print, in step S510, the BPS server 1transfers the rasterized print information to the CHE 8, and distributesthe print information to the STB 11 of the destination user via thecable network 9. Upon receiving print information from the BPS server 1,the STB 11 starts print processing by the printer 12 in step S511 andwatches the status of the printer 12.

In step S512, the STB 11 watches the status of the printer 12, anddetermines if a print error has occurred or if printing has beencompleted. If it is determined that a print error has been generated, anerror message is returned to the BPS server 1 and the STB 11 returns theprocessing back to the above-mentioned step S516. If it is determinedthat printing has been completed without an error, in step S513, the STB11 generates a status of end-of-print in which all the pieces ofdistribution print information sent from the BPS server 1 are printed,and notifies the BPS server 1 of the state of end-of-print via the CHE8.

In step S514, the BPS server 11 having received the status ofend-of-print activates the distribution record manager module 61, holdsthe distribution print information and results of receiving informationof a user who has completed printing, and manages the information. Thus,distribution results of requested distribution of an advertisement canbe correctly grasped.

When the registration in this distribution record manager module ends,the distribution processing is terminated in step S515.

In this way, the collection processing and the distribution processingof information are performed in this system.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a user interface to be displayed on a browserwhen registration of distribution contents are processed in a contentsprovider.

FIG. 6A shows a display image of a Web browser when the informationproviders (the advertisement company server 2 and the contents server 3)make a connection to the BPS server 1 via the Internet.

The contents provider who made an access inputs a registration ID numberand a password via an input form of a registration ID number and apassword shown in the area 204 in FIG. 6A to log in the BPS server 1. Inaddition, if the contents provider has not been registered, it performsregistration processing for registration in the area shown on the rightside of the area 204. The registration processing includes proceduresfor registering a company name, a contact, designation of an account andthe like. Since it is generally performed on the Internet, descriptionof the processing is omitted herein.

When the registration procedures have been completed and the contentsprovider logs in the BPS server 1, the contents provider startsregistration processing of contents that it desires distribution shownin FIG. 6B. Contents registered by the information providers (includingimage contents, article/news contents, use records, payment slips,advertisements or the like) are simply displayed as a contents previewimage 206 in the figure to be confirmed. In addition, attributeinformation of the contents to be registered such as a contents name, agenre of contents, a keyword of contents and a massage that the contentsprovider wishes to add to the contents is inputted in a form 205. Inthis way, the attribute information is inputted in the contentscollector module 48 of the BPS server 1. The contents collector module48 registers the collected contents information and the attributeinformation in the contents database 49 and the contents attributeinformation database 76, respectively.

The genre of contents includes image contents and article/news contentsas charged contents and use record contents and payment slip contents asfree contents, and further includes advertisement contents as contentsthat are inserted free of charge and for which expendable supplies arefree. In addition, the keyword can be registered freely and, forexample, in the case of advertisement contents, a keyword can beinputted in advance as a condition such as “restaurant”, “Kanagawa-ken”,“Italian”, “fully provided with a parking lot” or the like. Thecondition registered as a keyword here are inserted as an advertisementif it matches a keyword to be inputted as a condition of desiredcontents by a user as described later.

If a genre is registered as advertisement contents, the contentcollector module 48 registers the advertisement contents and thecontents attribute information in the advertisement database 50 and theadvertisement database 203, respectively.

FIG. 7 illustrates an image showing contents laid out by thedistribution image generator module 53 of the BPS server 1. A pluralityof contents registered by the information providers are laid out in anarea 207. As shown in the figure, there are a part for charged contentsfor articles/news and a part for free contents such as weatherinformation and a use record, which are properly laid out.

In an area 208, advertisements useful for respective destination usersare laid out, which are selected by the distribution manager 60 out ofthe contents attribute information and the user profile information. Theadvertisements include a part for advertisements and a part for couponsas shown in the figure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing registration processing for desiredcontents in an STB of each user and registration processing of acustomer profile in a BPS server.

In step S801, the STB 11 logs in the BPS server 1 according to aninstruction from a user who receives distribution utilizing a userinterface to be displayed on a monitor 13 connected to the STB 11. Sincethis can be performed in the same manner as a user generally makes aconnection to the Internet via the cable line 9 a, detailed descriptionis omitted.

In step S802, the STB 11 indicates whether the logged-in user is a newuser or a registered user such that the BPS server 1 can determine thesame. This can be done by causing a new user to indicate that the useris a new user or causing a registered user to input a user ID.

In the case of a new user, the STB 11 requests a user interface from theBPS server 1 in which the user inputs basic data of the user such as aname, an age, a date of birth, and downloads HTML format data preparedin the BPS server 1 via the CHE 8 and the cable network 9 and displaysthe data on the monitor 13 to solicit the user to input the basic data.When the user basic data is inputted in the displayed user interface,the STB 11 sends the user basic information to the BPS server 1.

The BPS server 1 confirms that there is no fault in the user basic datareceived from the user, approves the user as a new user, and issues auser ID. In step S804, the STB 11 receives the issued user ID, andstores it in the IC card 21 or a not-shown NVRAM in the STB 11. Inaddition, the STB 11 simultaneously causes the monitor 13 to display auser interface including the user ID and allows the user to recognizeit.

When the user ID is issued, in the next step S805, the STB 11 notifiesthe BPS server 1 that the user ID is confirmed by the user. Thus, a userprofile table is prepared in the BPS server 1 and is registered in theuser profile DB 6. In this way, the user is registered and logs in theBPS server 1 again.

In step S806, input processing of the user ID is performed. The STB 11displays a user interface on the monitor 13 being a display, andsolicits the user to input the user ID and the password. When the userID and the password are inputted, the STB 11 sends its authenticationinformation to the BPS server 1 via the cable line 9 a and the CHE 8,and authentication is performed in the BPS server 1. When the user IDand the password are verified in the BPS server 1, processing advancesto step S808.

In order to allow the user who is allowed to log in the BPS server toselect desired contents out of distributable contents, in step S808, auser interface including condition input items for preparing a userprofile is generated in the BPS server 1 and is downloaded in the STB11. This is realized by the BPS server 1 reading out a contentsattribute list in which contents registered in the contents database 49are classified by genre and generating a HTML format file by a CGIprogram. The STB 11 displays the downloaded user interface on themonitor 13 and allows the user to input conditions or the like of thedesired contents. A user interface including condition input items to bedisplayed on the monitor is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is an example of a user interface to be displayed on the TVscreen (monitor) 13 when registration of the desired contents isprocessed in the STB 11. As shown in FIG. 10, this user interface is forclassifying in detail the contents registered in the contents database49 of the BPS server 1 by genre and causing the user to select contents.

This image is displayed on a monitor connected to the STB 11 and, instep S809, an instruction to check, for example, “Classical-Opera” in“Music” is inputted in the STB 11 by the user's operation of a remotecontroller or the like. After the user checks the desired contents, instep S810, an instruction on information to be inputted is sent from theSTB 11 to the BPS server 1. The BPS server 1 updates a correspondinguser profile of the user already registered in the user profile DB 6 bythe user information (a genre or a keyword of the contents desired bythe user) received from the STB 11, and terminates the processing.

In this way, registration processing of desired contents is performed bya user using a UI in an STB and a BPS server being allowed to performupdate processing of a user profile. In addition, the user can designatearticle/news contents, a use record, a payment slip or the like that theuser desires as well as what kind of an advertisement the user desiresas advertisement contents for making expendable supplies to be free ofcharge. Therefore, there is an effect that the user receives lessunnecessary direct mails and an advertisement company can distributeadvertisement contents to users who desire them, and distribution costscan be extremely lowered, thus all users (customers, advertisementcompanies and contents providers) utilizing this mechanism can besatisfied.

FIG. 9 is a data diagram showing contents of a user profile registeredin the user profile DB 6 of the BPS server 1. Reference numerals 93 to100 denote items of a table for storing basic data of a user, which isregistered in a user profile DB when a new user is registered.

Reference numeral 93 denotes a user ID number, which is issued to theSTB 11 by the BPS server 1 and takes a unique value for each user whenthe user is initially registered. Reference numerals 94, 95, 96, 97, 98,99 and 100 denote a name, a sex, a date of birth, a current address,family members, an occupation, a hobby, respectively, which are basicdata of a user to be registered.

In addition, 101 and the following reference numerals denote user basicdata other than the above-mentioned information. As information ofuser's desired contents explained in FIGS. 8 and 10, a genre keyword ofthe selected contents is registered in a registered contents histories(1) to (3) denoted by reference numerals 101 to 103. If there are manycontents desired by a user or contents are added, this data registrationsection is extended. A genre keyword to be registered as a registeredcontents history include information for designating charged contents ofarticle/news contents (a name of a newspaper such as ABC news),information for designating free contents of a use record (a name of abank and an account number such as XXX Bank/XXX account), and conditionsinformation for selecting contents of free expendable supplies ofadvertisement content (e.g., information to be selected in FIG. 10 suchas music and sports).

In addition, information of a print time designated by a user is alsostored in the contents history. When selecting desired contents in stepS809 of FIG. 8, the user can designate a time when active printprocessing (push print) from the CHE 8 is performed using a userinterface. The time information designated by the user in the UI isregistered in the CHE 8 or a user profile in the BPS server 1 from theSTB 11, and a schedule is managed by the scheduler 55 at the time of thepush print. In addition, this desired time of print information can beregistered for each content. For example, the desired time of printinformation can be registered designating the time for outputtingarticle/news contents at 6 a.m. everyday and the time for outputting ause record at 6 a.m. on XX every month.

In addition, a P-point value is also registered following the contentshistory. The P-point value is a point for making expendable supplies tobe free of charge when advertisement information is printed. A P-pointis added every time advertisement information is printed and, whendistribution processing of expendable supplies is performed, a P-pointfor the expendable supplies is consumed (deducted) and the P-point valueis updated. Update processing of the P-point value is described in FIG.17 later.

In this way, it becomes possible to automatically select information tobe distributed to each user properly by registering or updating userbasic data in the user profile DB 6 of the BPS server 1. In addition, italso becomes possible for a user to designate a time when printinformation is distributed and print processing is performed. Forexample, a service for outputting a weather forecast of the day andsports articles of the previous day to a printer every morning can beoffered.

Processing for converting distribution information received from the BPSserver 1 to print information in the CHE 8 will now be described. FIG.11 is a flow chart showing processing for generating a raster image by aprinter driver based on the distribution information from the BPS server1 in the CHE 8 and outputting the raster image to the STB 11 of eachuser.

In step S1101, destination users are determined by the distributionmanager 60 of the BPS server 1 and a layout of distribution informationto be sent to respective users is determined by the distribution imagegenerator module 53. The obtained user designation information and thedistribution information are inputted by the CHE 8 from the BPS server1. The distribution information that the CHE 8 receives from the BPSserver 1 is generated by the distribution image generator module 53, andis prepared in the format of either an HTML format file or a PDF file.

When recognizing the destination users designated by the BPS server 1,the CHE 8 acquires an ID of the destination printer 12 for the STB 11 ofa destination user. Since the set-top box (STB) used with a cabletelevision receiver is always turned on even while the power supply ofthe TV is off, it can always respond to a request from the CHE 8.

In step S1103, the CHE 8 reads a printer driver corresponding to theacquired printer ID from the printer driver DB 7. Further, as describeabove, the printer driver DB 7 may be disposed below the CHE 8, and thisis the processing for the case.

In step S1104, the distribution information in the HTML format or thePDF format that the CHE 8 received form the BPS server is rasterized bythe printer driver which reads the distribution information, and printinformation in a data format printable by a printer to be connected tothe STB 11 is generated. In this embodiment, the printer to be connectedto the STB 11 is an ink jet printer, and the print information to begenerated is a raster image. In addition, a laser beam printer may beconnected to the STB 11 on rare occasions, in which case the printinformation is PDL data corresponding to the printer.

Then, in step S1105, a raster image being the generated printinformation is temporarily saved.

In step S1106, the CHE 8 obtains states of printers of the destinationusers, to which the print information is to be distributed, from the STB11 via the cable network 9, and determines whether the print informationcan be printed. More specifically, a status request signal is sent fromthe CHE 8 to the printer 12 via the STB 11. The printer 12 havingreceived this signal notifies the STB 11 of a current state of theprinter 12, and the STB 11 returns the state to the CHE 8 via the cablenetwork 9.

In step S1106, if it is determined that the printer 12 of thedestination user is in the unprintable state (another print job beingexecuted, running out of paper or running out of ink), or if a status isnot returned, the processing advances to step S1110, and the CHE 8registers print information that was intended to be distributed and itsjob ID as unprocessed, and manages it. A printer status ID indicatingthe status of the printer 12 in detail is added to information to benotified by the STB 11. In step S1111, the CHE 8 starts a task ofre-transmission for this print distribution based on this printer statusID and a job ID, and terminates the processing.

If it is determined that the printer 12 of the destination user is in aprintable state in step S1106, the CHE 8 distributes the rasterizedprint information to the STB 11 of the destination user via the cablenetwork 9 in step S1107. When receiving the print information from theCHE 8, the STB 11 starts print processing by the printer 12 and watchesthe status of the printer 12 in step S1108.

In step S1109, the STB 11 watches the status of the printer 12 andnotifies the CHE 8 of its result. The CHE 8 determines if a print errorhas occurred and if the print has been completed. If the CHE 8determines that a print error has occurred, the processing is returnedto the above-mentioned step S1110. If the CHE 8 determines that theprint has been completed without any error, the STB 11 generates astatus of end-of-print meaning that the entire print information sentfrom the CHE 8 has been printed, and notifies the CHE 8 of the status ofend-of-print via the cable network 9 in step S1112.

In step S1113, the CHE 8 having received the status of end-of-printholds the results of receipts of print information and user information,which has completed printing, as data, and manages the data. Thus,distribution results of requested advertisements can be graspedaccurately. In addition, the CHE 8 may send this information to the BPSserver 1 and manage it in the BPS server, as described above withreference to FIG. 5.

When this registration processing is completed, the distributionprocessing is terminated in step S1114.

In this way, rasterizing processing of distribution information receivedfrom the BPS server 1 and active distribution processing of rasterizedprint information to each user are performed. Therefore, there is aneffect that the CHE 8 can obtain a print output that is higher inresolution compared with the case in which print information prepared bya driver in an STB is printed in a conventional manner. In addition,there is also an effect that a user can save time and efforts forretrieving and collecting desired contents on the Internet.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing processing for analyzing data to bereceived from the CHE 8 in STB 11, dividing the data into printinformation and broadcast information, displaying the broadcastinformation on the TV screen 13, outputting raster data being the printinformation to the printer 12 without displaying the data on the TVscreen 13, and outputting information of a connected printer to the CHE8 in the case of a status request.

The processing is started by the CHE 8 requesting status confirmation ofthe printer 12 of the destination user via the STB 11, or distributinginformation to the STB 11.

In step S1201, the STB 11 obtains a status of the printer 12 to beconnected, and determines if the printer 12 is under processing. Here,if the printer 12 returns a status indicating that printing isunavailable due to some factors (another print being executed, runningout of ink, running out of paper or the like), in step S1202, the STB 11sends a retransmission request of a job and a current status of theprinter 12 to the BPS server 1 (or the CHE 8) in order to request tostart a task of retransmission later, and terminates the job.

In addition, if the STB 11 determines that the printer 12 is printable,it starts receipt processing of print information to be distributed fromthe CHE 8 in step S1203. The STB 11 first converts a first line of theprint information, which has been converted to a raster image before, toa signal transmittable to a cable by a digital modulation block of theCHE 8, and receives the print information to be multiplexed with othersignals and forwarded to the cable network 9. In step S1204, the signalconveyed by the cable network 9 is received by the STB 11. In stepS1205, the received signal is demodulated by the STB 11, and a codeerror that has occurred in a transmission step is corrected by errorcorrection processing.

In step S1206, the de-scramble module 18 of the STB 11 de-scrambles thedistribution information by the processing described in FIG. 2, andaccurately receives data. Subsequently in step S1207, the demultiplexer19 of the STB 11 separates broadcast information of video and audio andprint information that are multiplexed in the distribution information.Among the information, video and audio signals are outputted to the TVscreen 13 by the video decoder 20 and the audio decoder 24 of the STB11, and displayed and vocally outputted in step S1208. In addition,print distribution information extracted by the multiple signalseparation is transferred from the print information decoder 25 of theSTB 11 to the printer 12 in step 51209.

One line of the print information transferred to the printer 12 isstored in step S1209, and print processing is executed in the followingstep S1210. During the print processing, the STB 11 watches the statusof the printer 12, and determines if an error has occurred duringprinting in step S1211. If the STB 11 determines that an error hasoccurred during printing, the STB 11 returns the BPS server 1 Errormessage in step S1212, and leaves determination to the BPS server 1.

On the other hand, in a state in which a print error has not occurred,the STB 11 watches if all the data of a line buffer has been printed instep S1213. If the print information remains in the line buffer, the STB11 waits for prints to be executed by the printer 12. When the entireprint information of the line buffer is outputted, the STB 11 determinesif information printed by the printer 12 is information of the last linein step S1214. If the information is not information of the last line,the STB 11 requests the CHE 8 to send print information of the next linein step S1215. In addition, if the printed information is information ofthe last line, the STB 11 informs the CHE 8 of end-of-print in stepS1216.

The STB analyzes distribution information received form the CHE, outputsbroadcast information to a TV and outputs raster data to the printer 12,and prints it without displaying it on the TV. Thus, burdens of a userfor having information that the user wishes to print displayed on the TVscreen and instructing printing thereafter are eliminated, operations ofthe user are simplified, and it becomes possible to display otherprograms and perform the Internet operations even during printing.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing registration processing of advertisementdistribution in the advertisement company (AD) servers (2 a and 2 b).This processing is started by an advertisement company that requestedthe advertisement distribution by accessing the BPS server 1 via theInternet 4.

First, in step s1301, an advertisement company server accesses a WWWserver of the BPS server 1 from a Web browser, obtains a page includinga user interface for making an advertisement distribution request in theHTML format, and displays the user interface on the Web browser.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an example of a user interface to bedisplayed on a browser when registration of advertisement distributionis processed in an advertisement company. The user interface to bedisplayed in step S1301 is shown in FIG. 14A. FIG. 14A is an image on aWeb browser to be displayed at the time of an initial log-in. Anadvertisement client can input a registration ID number and a passwordfrom an input form denoted by reference numeral 209. The advertisementcompany server 2 inputs an ID number of the advertisement company, whichhas already been distributed from the BPS server 1, in the input formdisplayed on the Web browser, and sends the advertisement company ID tothe BPS server (S1302).

In step S1303, the advertisement company server 2 waits for an approvalof the BPS server 1 and, when an approval is obtained, browses aregistration screen of advertisement information provided by the BPSserver 1. In step S1304, the advertisement company server 2 being anadvertisement client transfers advertisement information that theadvertisement company wishes to distribute to the BPS server 1 by theHTTP via the Internet 4 in order to perform processing for registeringthe advertisement information in the advertisement database 50 of theBPS server 1. It is assumed that the advertisement information iswritten in a PDF file or an HTML file. The BPS server 1 obtains theadvertisement information sent from the advertisement company server 2and registers the information in the advertisement database 50. The BPSserver 1 then generates an HTML format file by the CGI, which includes aform for indicating that the advertisement information has beenregistered and inputting conditions for selecting a destination user,and distributes the file to the advertisement company server 2. In stepS1305, the advertisement company server displays the file received fromthe BPS server 1 on the Web browser, checks an attribute list of adestination user displayed on the Web browser to find what kind of usersthe advertisement company wishes to distribute advertisements registeredin the BPS server, and returns its result to the BPS server 1 as anargument. As a designation of a destination user, “distribution region”,“target age of a distribution user” or “occupation of the distributionuser” (see FIG. 14B) can be designated in addition to those in the checklist.

Based on distribution destination attribute information with a desireddestination sent from the advertisement company server 2 being anadvertisement client, the BPS server 1 compares the user profile DB 6and the above-mentioned distribution destination attribute information,and selects a user who is most beneficial if this advertisement isdistributed in step S1306. During this processing, the advertisementcompany server 2 inputs attributes of an advertisement to be distributedby using a user interface in step S1307. The attributes of thisadvertisement include, for example, “term during which thisadvertisement is distributed”, “size of print image of thisadvertisement”, “keywords for each genre of advertisement contents” orthe like. A selection list of attribute information to be displayed isnow shown in FIG. 14B. FIG. 14B is a screen for selecting attributes ofan advertisement distribution destination to be displayed on a Webbrowser. A term for distributing an advertisement and attributeinformation of a desired distribution destination are inputted on thisform. The term for distributing an advertisement is a designation ofdates such as “from xxx until xxx”, and a keyword for each genre is adesignation such as “Japanese style restaurant”, “with a coupon” or thelike. Here, the inputted attribute information concerning advertisementdistribution is sent to the BPS server 1 from the advertisement companyserver 2 via the Internet in the same manner as designation of adestination user. In addition, designation of a destination user andattribute designation of advertisement information may be simultaneouslyperformed as shown in FIG. 14B, which are simultaneously sent to the BPSserver 1 from the advertisement company server 2 in this case.

The attribute information sent from the advertisement company server 2to the BPS server 1 is, in association with advertisement information,registered in the advertisement attribute information database 203 ofthe BPS server 1. In addition, the BPS server 1 estimates an amount ofexpendable supplies to be used in print processing on a printer of auser based on “size information of a print image of an advertisement”included in the attribute information of the advertisement, determines apoint value of the P-point (printer point) for making expendablesupplies to be free of charge. This P-point value is, in associationwith the advertisement, also registered in the advertisement attributeinformation database 203. Utilization of the P-point is described later.

Processing for estimating charges in the current advertisementdistribution for the advertisement client is executed in this way basedon the registered advertisement and attributes of the advertisement inthe BPS server 1. In step S1308, the advertisement company server 2receives a result of the estimation, and executes an order afterconfirming the estimation. Lastly, in step S1309, the advertisementcompany server 2 terminates the registration processing of theadvertisement in the BPS server 1, and logs off the BPS server.

As described above, an advertisement company server can registeradvertisement information in a BPS server while requesting a destinationuser, and an advertisement company can specify a user to whomadvertisement information is distributed because a distribution term andadvertisement attributes are registered together. Therefore, there is aneffect that an advertisement can be efficiently and actively placedcompared with the case in which an advertisement is registered in aplurality of home pages, which are likely to be related, to allowunspecified number of users to browse the advertisement as in aconventional banner advertisement of the Internet. In addition, therealso is an effect that the advertisement company needs to bear lesscosts because distribution costs are significantly reduced compared withthose for direct mails.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing processing for retrieving a destinationuser designated by an advertisement company in a BPS server andmulticasting an advertisement to a pertinent user.

In step S1501, the BPS server 1 reads advertisement attributeinformation associated with a registered advertisement to be held in theadvertisement attribute database 203, and recognizes what kind of usersthe advertisement company wishes to distribute target advertisementinformation. More specifically, “place of living of a distributionuser”, “target age of a distribution user”, “occupation of adistribution user”, “sex of a distribution user”, “family members of adistribution user” and “content attributes of advertisement information”are obtained out of keywords included in the advertisement attributeinformation.

In step S1502, the BPS server 1 compares the destination attributeinformation obtained from the advertisement attribute database 203 withuser profiles registered and managed in the user profile DB 6 to selectbeneficial users who match a condition for distributing an advertisementof an object of processing.

In step S1503, the BPS server 1 reads out contents desired bydistribution users selected in the preceding step for each user. Then,in step S1504, the distribution manager 60 of the BPS server 1determines each content to be distributed to respective users based onthe contents attribute information database 76.

Then, in step S1505, each content determined by the distribution manager60 is read out from the contents database 49 and is transferred to thedistribution image generator 53. In addition, in step S1506,advertisement data to be added is read out from the advertisementdatabase 50 by the distribution manager 60 and is transferred to thedistribution image generator module 53 in the same manner. Advertisementinformation to be read out here is to be selected by the distributionmanager 60 for each user based on a user profile held in the userprofile DB 6.

Then, in step S1507, the distribution image generator module 53 appliesarrangement determination processing of a distribution image with alayout different for each user to the transferred content andadvertisement information. When the layout arrangement processing isexecuted, in step S1508, the print information distribution engine 54 ofthe BPS server 1 reads out a printer driver corresponding to each userfrom the printer driver DB 7 based on distribution information generatedby the distribution image generator module 53 to activate it, therebygenerating print information for each user. Thus, print information isdistributed to a plurality of pertinent users by an application server57.

Further, although print information is distributed to a plurality ofusers, the distribution forms actually monocast distribution becausedifferent print information is distributed with different layout foreach user. However, in the case where a size of advertisementinformation is large and contents information is not added to anadvertisement, a layout of distribution information is identical for allthe users, and print information varies according to types of printersused by the users. In this case, a printer driver corresponding to aprinter currently used multicasts print information for an identicaluser.

As described above, a user suitable for a designated condition isretrieved to actively distribute advertisement information registered byan advertisement company to pertinent users in a BPS. Thus, there is aneffect that advertisement information can be effectively sent only tocustomers desired by the advertisement company and distribution costsare significantly reduced compared with those for direct mails.

In addition, print information arranged and generated with a layoutsuitable for each user is distributed. Thus, there is an excellenteffect that a user can obtain only desired information and can obtain anoutput image of higher resolution.

In addition, if distribution information consisting of advertisementinformation is sent, a layout of the distribution information is thesame for all the users, and identical print information can be multicastto users using an identical printer. Thus, there is an effect that loadson a cable network can be reduced.

A mechanism for distributing contents such as a use record and a paymentslip to a user will be described next. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showingprocessing in response to a payment slip distribution request from thecontents servers 3 a and 3 b, which are companies, and singlecasting(monocasting) a payment slip to pertinent users in a BPS.

In step S1601, the BPS server 1 receives a payment slip distributionrequest from the contents server 3 of use records and payment slips.This processing is for a Web browser of the contents server 3 to accessthe BPS server 1 and notify a payment slip distribution requestsimilarly to advertisement registration processing and contentsregistration processing. Subsequently in step S1602, the BPS server 1receives an input of a registration ID number and a password from thecontents server. Then, in step S1603, the BPS server 1 verifies theregistration ID number and the password received from the contentsserver 3 and, if they are correct, the BPS server 1 allows login fromthe contents server 3.

In step S1604, the BPS server 1 receives payment slip data that isrequested to be distributed from the contents server 3 via the Internet,and registers the received payment slip data in the payment slipdatabase 51. Then, in step S1605, the BPS server 1 receives informationof a destination user to whom a payment slip is distributed from thecontents server 3. Subsequently in step S1606, the BPS server 1 receivesinformation on whether advertisement inclusion is appropriate when thepayment slip is distributed from contents server 3, and determineswhether or not the payment slip should distribute with an advertisement.If the payment slip is distributed without an advertisement, in stepS1607, the BPS server 1 generates print information in the same manneras the above-mentioned processing based on the payment slip informationregistered for the user designated by the contents server 3, andscrambles the print information to singlecast it to the user via thecable network 9. The BPS server 1 further accumulates results ofreceiving by the user to whom the print information has beendistributed, and terminates the processing.

In addition, if it is determined in the step S1606 that an advertisementshould be attached, the BPS, server 1 selects from the advertisementdatabase 50 an advertisement to be attached to a payment slip to bedistributed with reference to the user profile DB 6 in S1608 and basedon a profile of a user intended to distribute. Then, the BPS server 1generates a layout in which an advertisement is attached to the paymentslip to be distributed in the distribution image generator module 53. Instep S1609, the BPS server 1 reads out a printer driver by therasterizer 56 and activates it in the same manner as the above-mentionedprocessing. Then, the BPS server 1 further scrambles the printinformation, and distributes the print information of a payment slipwith an advertisement to a designated user by the application server 57via the cable network 9. Then, the BPS server 1 accumulates results ofreceiving of users to whom the print information has been distributedand terminates the processing.

As described above, a BPS server receives a distribution request ofcontents such as a payment slip from a contents server such as a bank toregister the contents, and the contents are actively distributed.Therefore, a payment slip can be distributed simply and with lower coststhan a direct mail to a user designated by the contents server.

In addition, information to be distributed is scrambled using a cablenetwork. Therefore, there is an effect that excellent security isrealized and leakage of information lessens compared with the case inwhich information is mailed or sent by public lines.

A mechanism for making expendable supplied free of charge for a user whohas printed advertisement information that is a content for whichexpendable supplies are free will now be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing accumulation processing of a P-point (print point) in aBPS server.

First, in step S1701, the BPS server 1 prepares print distributioninformation such as contents with an advertisement and a payment slipfor distribution to a user, and distributes print information withadvertisement information to a specific user. The STB 11 in adestination user receiving the print information returns a status ofend-of-print to the BPS server 1 when it receives the print informationand printout is finished by the printer 12. In step S1702, when the BPSserver 1 receives the end-of-print status sent from each STB 11, theprocessing advances to the next step S1703.

In step S1703, the BPS server 1 confirms the P-point number granted tothe user when the user receives the print information distributed thistime. The BPS server 1 reads out attribute information from theadvertisement attribute information database 203 concerning all piecesof advertisement information attached to the print informationdistributed this time, adds the P-point in the attribute information,and obtains the total P-point number corresponding to the distributedprint information.

Then, in step S1704, the BPS server 1 also adds the P-point number inthe print distribution information received this time to the P-pointnumber of the user, who received the print information this time,accumulated to that point in the distribution module 53 based on theend-of-print status received from each user, and updates the userprofile DB 6 again.

In this way, a BPS server adds the P-point to a user who printed theprint information in which advertisement information is included andupdates a user profile. Therefore, there is an effect that a user canaccumulate P-points as much as the user prints advertisementinformation, and can easily request to have record color material suchas ink and toner as well as a recording medium sent.

Access processing to a portal site will now be described which realizesprocessing of sending expendable supplies free of charge such that auser requesst to have expendable supplies sent free of charge utilizingaccumulated P-points. FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing processing ofconnecting from the STB 11 to a portal site for sending expendablesupplies. This processing is executed by a user requesting “connectionprocessing to a portal site” operating a remote control of the STB 11

In step S1801, the STB 11 selects an Internet CH (channel) to select aservice of Internet connection among channels of a cable TV, and allowsa user to make a connection to the Internet via the TV screen 13. In thefollowing step S1802, the STB 11 automatically inputs a URL of a portalsite of a company operating a BPS service in a form for inputting a URLof a browser displayed on the TV screen 13. This is realized byreceiving a URL of a portal site when receiving information distributionfrom the BPS server 1, holding information of the URL in the IC card 21or a not-shown NVRAM in advance, and reading out the URL therefrom.

In step S1803, the STB 11 sends the inputted URL to the CHE 8 via thecable network 9, and issues a request for obtaining information of thedestination URL. In step S1804, the CHE 8 receives the URL sent from theSTB 11. Then, in step S1805, the CHE 8 demodulates the information foraccessing the Internet by a received signal, and accesses the Internetvia a gateway provided in the CHE 8. In step S1806, the STB 11 obtainsWeb information from the portal site of the company operating the BPSservice via the CHE 8 to display a top page to the portal site of thecompany operating the BPS service on the TV screen 13, and terminatesthe processing.

In this way, the STB 11 holds the URL obtained upon receivinginformation distribution from the BPS server 1, and reads out the URL toinstruct the CHE 8 to access a portal site, thereby automaticallyrealizing an access to a portal site providing expendable supplies.Therefore, there is an effect that a user can make a connection to aportal site without searching it and bears less burdens.

Delivery processing for a user to have expendable supplies distributedfree of charge utilizing accumulated P-points in the accessed portalsite will now be described. FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing processingfor receiving a request and mailing arrangement for expendable suppliesin a portal site server. This processing is started by the STB 11accessing a portal site of a company operating a BPS service of a userwho receives print information (distribution information).

In step S1901, the STB 11 of the user receiving print distributioninformation connects to the portal site of the company operating the BPSservice via a channel of Internet connection of a cable TV and accessesa home page for requesting expendable supplies as shown in FIG. 18. Asdescribe above, a service of expendable supplies request by a user whoreceives this print distribution information is a system in which printdistribution information is sent to the user from the BPS server 1, andwhen the user receives the sent print distribution information, theP-point is given to the user as the user's result of receiving the printdistribution information. Therefore, the user can receive expendablesupplies such as ink for a printer, paper or the like in exchange forthis P-point.

In step S1902, a server of the portal site of the company operating theBPS service obtains a user ID from the STB of the user currentlyaccessing it who receives the print distribution information, andrequests the number of P-points of the user from the BPS server 1 viathe Internet based on the user ID to obtain it. When the BPS server 1receives a request for obtaining the P-point from the portal site serverwith the user ID used as an argument, the distribution record managermodule 61 refers to a value of a table in which the number of P-pointsof the pertinent user is recorded based on the user ID, and returns theP-point to the portal site server. In addition, processing for obtaininga user ID in step S1902 can be performed simultaneously with step S1901if the user accessed the portal site at least once in the past. In thatcase, when the user accesses the portal site for the first time, theuser ID is recorded in a browser (Windows CE is generally used) in theSTB 11 as “cookie” information. Then, when the browser in the STBaccesses the portal site server next, the portal site server sees the“cookie” to recognize the user and confirms the user ID. However, inthis case, it is not desirable to leave the user ID itself of the mainservice, and it is rather desirable to manage the user ID of the mainservice in the portal site server and leave a user ID given to the useranew in the portal site server in the “cookie” considering security. Inthis way, the processing of step S1901 to the processing for obtaining auser Id in step S1902 can be simultaneously performed when the portalserver is accessed for the second time or more.

In step S1903, the portal site server returns the number of P-points ofthe user currently accessing it acquired from the BPS server 1 to theSTB 11. Through such processing, the STB 11 can display P-pointsaccumulated of the user on the browser of the TV screen 13. The STB 11notifies the user of the number of points of the user currentlyaccessing it by this process.

Then, in step S1904, the portal site server generates a list ofexpendable supplies associated with the number of P-points as expendablesupplies provision information written in the HTML format in order toallow the user to select expendable supplies and instruct deliveryaccording to a P-point. The list consists of P-points of a user and alist of associated expendable supplies in which consumption pointsrequired for providing expendable supplies. The portable site serversends the list to the STB 11 via the Internet 4 and the cable network 9,and the STB 11 displays a list of expendable supplies associated withthe number of P-points shown in FIG. 20 on the browser of the TV screen13. The list of expendable supplies associated with the number ofP-points includes a list of expendable supplies in which a recordingcolor material such as ink and a recording medium such as paper whichthe user requests delivery in exchange for a P-point are included.

FIG. 20 illustrates a user interface showing an expendable suppliesrequest screen displayed on the TV display 13 via the STB according toexpendable supplies provision information in the HTML format to be sentfrom a portal site server. In an area denoted by reference numeral 211,the current number of P-points of a user currently accessing a portalsite which is acquired by the portal site server from the distributionrecord manager module 61 of the BPS server 1 is shown. An area denotedby reference numeral 212 shows a list of expendable supplies that theuser requests delivery in exchange for a P-point, in which a consumptionpoint indicating a point for each item of expendable supplies isdisplayed. The user having accessed the portal site checks an item ofexpendable supplies that the user requests in this expendable supplieslist and makes an instruction to deliver by pressing an exchange button.Thus the user can notify the portal site server of an item of expendablesupplies that the user requests delivery from the STB 11. In addition,contents is obtained from the portal site server and displayed, in whichthe total number of P-points displayed in an area denoted by referencenumeral 210 is updated by subtracting the number of P-points of theselected item of expendable supplies. In addition, a WWW server of theportal site server may generate expendable supplies provisioninformation such that only expendable supplies that can be provided freeof charge with a current P-point is displayed in the area of theassociated expendable supplies list of the expendable supplies provisioninformation.

Then, in step S1905, the STB 11 allows the user to input an item ofexpendable supplies selected within the total number of P-points of theuser, and sends information of the inputted item of expendable suppliesthat the user requests delivery to the portal site server. In stepS1906, the portal site server confirms a type and a total number ofitems selected by the user, and determines whether or not the totalnumber is within the current P-point of the user, that is, whether ornot the item should be provided free of charge. If it is confirmed thatthe consumption point of the selected and designated item of expendablesupplies is within the P-point, the portal site server notifies the userthat the order for the item has been taken. If it is confirmed that theconsumption point of the selected and designated item of expendablesupplies is equal to or more than the current P-point of the user, theportal site server generates a file of the HTML format explaining thatthe order of the item cannot be taken because the user has made aselection equal to or more than the P-point or costs for compensatingfor the shortage of P-point will be incurred, and sends the file to theuser via the STB 11. In addition, the portal site does not make adetermination in itself, and sends the type and the total number ofitems of expendable supplies selected by the user to the BPS server 1.The BPS server 1 then determines whether or not the consumption point ofthe selected item is within the current P-point of the user who executedthe selection, that is, whether or not the item should be provided freeof charge. A result determined by the BPS server 1 is sent to the portalsite.

If it is determined that the consumption point of the selected item iswithin the current P-point of the user, or if it is confirmed that theuser will pay costs for compensating for shortage of the P-point, theorder of the item of expendable supplies is considered to be formallytaken. Then, in step S1907, the portal site server comuptes a new numberof P-points by subtracting the number of P-points used in the requestfor the item of expendable supplies this time based on thecorrespondence table in which items of expendable supplied managed byitself and P-points. Then, the portal site server notifies the BPSserver 1 of the updated P-point via the Internet. The BPS server 1having received the updated P-point updates the total number of P-pointsof the user in profile data to be stored in the user profile DB 6 by thedistribution record manager module 61, and saves the updated value inthe user profile DB 6 again.

In step S1908, the portal site server requests and obtains userinformation such as an address of the user who changed the P-point tothe item of expendable supplies this time from the BPS server 1. Then,the portal site server prepares a list of the obtained user informationand the item selected by the user as expendable supplies delivery data.

Then, in step S1909, the portal site server sends the preparedexpendable supplies delivery data to a shipping division server of asales company of a company operating the BPS service. In step S1910, theshipping division server prints and outputs a delivery slip in which theaddress of the user and a method of paying the balance based on thereceived expendable supplies delivery data, and lets a deliverer tosurely deliver the item selected by the user to the designated user'shome. In this way, the deliverer can easily recognize informationrequired in delivering an item, such as which item of expendablesupplies is delivered to which address, and whether a method of payingthe balance is cash on delivery or payment into a bank account if thereis the balance.

In addition, the BPS server 1 and the portal site may be an identicalserver. In that case, time and labor required for processing foracquiring the P-point of step S1902 and processing for notifying updateof a P-point of step S1907 can be saved. In this way, the user canaccess the portal site server from the STB 11 and request expendablesupplies using the user interface displayed on the TV screen, andexchanges the P-point accumulated by printing advertisement informationfor expendable supplies. Therefore, expendable supplies can be obtainedwithout any costs or for a discounted price, and costs born by the usercan be significantly reduced.

Charge processing between an advertisement company server and a BPSserver which takes place by distributing print information includingadvertisement information will now be described. FIG. 21 is a flow chartshowing charge processing in the case of contents distribution with anadvertisement in a BPS.

In step S2101, the BPS server 1 receives attribute information of userswho desire distribution of advertisement information from theadvertisement company server 2 requesting advertisement. Then, in stepS2102, in order to select destination users desired by the advertisementserver, the BPS server 11 refers to and retrieves through profiles ofrespective users managed in the user profile DB 6 based on the attributeinformation of the users who desire distribution, and determinesdestination users of print distribution information of this time. Thisretrieval varies depending on attribute information of the users whodesire distribution. For example, the BPS server 1 retrieves addressesof the user profiles if a designation of the attribute information is“region”, retrieves ages of the user profiles if the designation of theattribute information is “age”, and retrieves “genre of interest” ofcontents histories of the user profile if the designation of theattribute information is “genre”.

Then, in step S2103, the BPS server 1 determines contents to be added toadvertisement information and sent to users to whom the advertisementinformation is determined to be distributed. This processing is realizedby the BPS server 1 comparing user profiles of the users to whom theadvertisement information is determined to be distributed with thecontents attribute database 76 to determine contents that respectiveusers desire, and transferring the contents selected from the contentsdatabase 49 to the distribution image generator 53. In addition, asdescribed above, advertisement information may be attached later. Inthat case, when distribution of free contents such as a use record and apayment slip that are requested by the contents server 3 to distributeis processed, advertisement information that should be distributed tothe user is retrieved from the user profile DB 6 by the above-mentionedprocessing, and the advertisement information is attached to thecontents. In addition, distribution of charged contents such asarticle/news contents or image contents to be distributed according to arequest from a user is carried out at one time or regularly with a timedesignation. When this distribution is processed, advertisementinformation is retrieved in the similar manner, and the advertisementinformation is attached to the contents.

Then, in step S2104, the distribution image generator module 53 of theBPS server 1 determines a layout arrangement as distribution informationfrom the distribution contents selected in the preceding step and theadvertisement information to be forwarded to the destination user thistime. The distribution image generator module 53 then generatesdistribution information, and notifies the print informationdistribution engine 54 that the information that should be distributedhas been generated.

Subsequently in step S2105, the print information distribution engine 54of the BPS server 1 sends distribution information including theadvertisement information generated by the distribution image generatormodule 53 to the rasterizer 56. The rasterizer 56 reads out a printerdriver from the printer driver DB 7 and activates it to generate printinformation of a rasterized image from the distribution information, andreturns the print information to the print information distributionengine 54. The print information distribution engine 54 distributes theprepared print information from the application server 58 to the STB 11of each user home via the CHE 8 and the cable network 9. Further, if adesired distribution time is designated in user profiles in the userprofile DB 6, a schedule is managed by the scheduler 55, and a time foractivating the print information distribution engine 57 is controlledfor each user.

When the STB 11 installed in each user home receives this printdistribution information and sends the print distribution information tothe printer 12 by the above-mentioned processing, and the entire printdistribution information is printed by the printer 12, the STB 11 sendsa print end status to the BPS server 1. When the BPS server 1 receivesthe print end status, the BPS server 1 computes the total number ofusers who has printed and received the distributed print information instep S2106. This value is updated every time the print end status isreceived.

Then, in step S2107, the BPS server 1 computes an advertisementdistribution fee concerning the advertisement distribution in this timeto generate charge information based on a print size of printinformation (applied to charge for expendable supplies because thisrelates to a P-point of expendable supplies) and a computed and updatedresult of the number of users to whom the print information isdistributed. The BPS server 1 sends the generated charge information tothe advertisement company server 2 who requests advertisement andcharges the costs.

In this way, advertisement information can be distributed to users whoare targets of distribution (desiring distribution), and anadvertisement costs is charged according to distribution results forusers who actually received and printed the advertisement information.Therefore, there is an effect that an advertisement company caneffectively place an advertisement. There is also an effect that costsof an advertisement is minimum because the costs are charged based ondistribution results, and a service is easily used because the costs ischarged after the advertisement distribution.

Charge processing between a contents server and a BPS server concerninginformation sending costs generated by distributing contents requestedby the contents server will now be described. FIG. 22 is a flow chartshowing charge processing in the case of a payment slip distributionrequest in the BPS server 1.

In step S2201, the BPS server 1 receives text information of a paymentslip that users request distribution and information of destinationusers from the contents server 3 requesting a payment slip. Here, theBPS server 1 estimates a payment slip distribution fee from the numberof users to whom contents are distributed, and notifies the contentsserver 3 requesting a payment slip of a distribution fee estimation.

Getting an approval on the distribution fee estimate from the contentsserver 3, in step S2202, the BPS server 1 reads out a printer drivercorresponding each user and generates print information of a rasterimage by developing distribution information in the same manner as theabove-mentioned processing in order to distribute payment slip printinformation to users designated by the contents server 3, respectively.Then, the BPS server 1 scrambles the generated print information by userID and singlecasts (transmission to one designated user) the printinformation to designated users via the cable network 9. When theprinter 12 of each user home finishes payment slip printing, the STB 11returns a print end status to the BPS server 1.

When the BPS server 1 receives a print end status notice from the usersand confirms distribution of the payment slip print information, in stepS2203, the BPS server 1 confirms users who have finished the paymentslip printing from this status for ending the payment slip printing, andcomputes a total number of users who have printed and received thedistributed print information. This value is updated every time the BPSserver 1 receives the print end status. Then, the BPS server 1accumulates distribution results of users to whom the print informationhave been distributed, and notifies the contents server 3 requesting apayment slip via the Internet. In step S2204, the BPS server 1 alsocharges the contents server 3 a payment slip distribution fee of thistime. In addition, for users who could not print a payment slip due toinability of receiving the print information, the BPS server 1 makes alist of a status indicating reasons for the print inability andinformation of the users who could not receive the print information,and sends the list to the payment slip client.

Thus, the information distribution system is superior in securitycompared with the Internet distribution because payment slip informationis distributed to designated users via a cable network. In addition, theinformation distribution system is suitable for keeping secret becausecontents cannot be found due to scrambling processing by user ID even ifan illegal access occurred. In addition, since print information iselectronically distributed via a cable network, distribution costs aresignificantly lowered. Thus, a different payment slip can be distributedto each user at extremely low costs compared with direct mails or thelike, and a service that is convenient for a distribution client can beprovided. Moreover, there is also an effect that, since users who couldnot print a payment slip can be specified, a distribution client cansurely confirm distribution processing.

Market consulting processing will now be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing market consulting processing in a BPS server.

In step S2301, upon receiving login from a search server (not shown) ofa market search client that desires information of users via theInternet, the BPS server 1 prepares a file in the HTML format forproviding a user interface to allow the market search client to inputsearch items to indicate information on what kind of users and marketsthe search server desires, and sends the file to the search server viathe Internet. At this point, the BPS server 1 notifies the market searchclient of an estimation of a market search fee by an identical file.

When the search items are inputted by the search server, in step S2302,the BPS server 1 refers to user profiles registered in the user profileDB 6 based on these search items. Then, in step S2303, the BPS server 1analyzes the user profiles along the search items inputted by the marketsearch client, and prepares market search data that does not includeindividual information.

Then, in step S2304, the BPS server 1 sends the market search dataprepared by analyzing the user profiles in the preceding step to themarket search client via the Internet. Then, in step S2305, the BPSserver 1 confirms receipt of the market search data to the market searchclient. When the receipt is confirmed, in step S2306, the BPS server 1charges the market search client a market search fee.

In this way, search results to be obtained by analyzing a database inwhich results of distribution to users are accumulated are provided,which allows market consulting companies to have a site for providinginformation.

FIG. 24 is an image view illustrating a mechanism of charging in a BPSservice. An advertisement client 184 (an advertisement company server)desiring distribution of its own advertisement distributes its ownadvertisement to a user receiving the BPS service utilizing anadvertisement distribution service 190 provided by the BPS server 1.Thus, the advertisement client can surely send advertisement printinformation to a printer at a user's home 197 as printed information.

The advertisement distribution service 190 means that the advertisementclient 184 transfers “attribute information of users that it wishes todistribute” to the BPS server 1 via the Internet, then the BPS server 1compares user profiles in the user profile DB 6 with the “attributeinformation that the advertisement client 184 wishes to distribute”transferred from the advertisement client 184 and analyzes them todetermine a destination user who is most beneficial for theadvertisement client 184. The advertisement client 184 can receive aservice in which the BPS server 1 determines a most effectivedestination user by distributing an advertisement of the advertisementclient 184 other than a service for surely delivering requestedadvertisement distribution information to the destination user. Inaddition, the BPS server 1 can manage a distribution state in real timevia the printer 12 and the STB 11 of the destination user and can notifyadvertisement client 184 of the distribution results of accurateadvertisement information. Thus, the BPS server 1 can propose anaccurate charge system for distribution results to the advertisementclient 184, and the advertisement client 184 can always investigate astate of distributing its own advertisement to users. The advertisementclient 184 pays a distribution fee 191 for an advertisement to the BPSserver 1 with respect to this service.

The payment slip client 182 desiring distribution of text informationsuch as a payment slip and a bank use record to specific usersdistributes such text information to users receiving the BPS serviceutilizing the payment slip distribution service 186 provided by the BPSserver 1. Thus, the payment slip client 182 can receive a service ofsurely delivering the text information such as a payment slip and a bankuse record to the printer at the user's home 197 as printed information.The payment slip client 182 transfers information that it wishes todistribute from a Web browser to the BPS server 1. Thus, since the BPSserver 1 manages a distribution service of print information to theuser's home, the payment slip client can utilize a low cost service fordistribution processing to users. The payment slip client pays thedistribution fee 187 to the BPS server 1 for this payment distributionservice 186.

The contents provider 183 (contents server) registers contents 188created by itself in the BPS server 1, thereby taking part in the BPSbusiness. The contents include image contents such as a photograph,article/news contents such as an article or news of a newspaper, weatherforecast contents and the like. The contents provider 183 can determinethe contents ranking from those which can be inserted free of charge tothose which are charged to be inserted. The BPS server 1 distributes thecontents in response to a request from the user 197, and receives acontents use fee from the user 197 in accordance with distribution ofcharged contents. In addition, the BPS server 1 pays a fee for usingcontents 189 to the contents provider 183 according to results fordistributing the registered contents 188 to users.

The market search client 185 desiring information of users of a BPSservice receives a consulting service 192 from the BPS server 1. The BPSserver 1 receives search items requested by the market search client185, and, based on the user profile DB 6, provides the consultingservice 192 of market search results based on detailed data of the user.The market search client 185 pays a fee 193 to the BPS server 1 for thisservice.

The user 197 who receives print distribution information from the BPSserver 1 receives print information distribution service 200 from theBPS server 1. If the user 197 prints and receives information sent by aprint distribution service 200, the user 197 receives a point 201corresponding to the print information. The point 201 is provided by theBPS server 1 for the user 197 as a fee for the user 197 receivinginformation of a company side. The user 197 receives the printinformation distribution service 200, thereby receiving an advertisementof the company side as described above and providing the BPS server 1with marketing information such as demand information of the user 197.In addition, the user 197 can perform “point-supply exchange” denoted byreference numeral 199 for requesting expendable supplies such as ink andpaper in exchange for the point 201 sent from the BPS server 1. Thisrequest is sent to a sales company 194, which delivers expendablesupplies 196 to the user 197 in exchange for the point 201. A fee 198incurred here is paid from the BPS server 1 to the sales company 194.

In this way, the BPS server 1 receives a distribution fee from a paymentslip client and an advertisement client, receives a charged contents usefee from a user, pays a contents use fee to a contents provider, payscosts for expendable supplies to a sales company, and receives a fee fora service provided for a market search client. Thus the BPS server 1establishes a charging system and obtains the balance as a profit.

In addition, it is needless to mention that the object of the presentinvention can be also attained by supplying a storage medium (orrecording medium), in which a program code of software for realizing thefunction of the above-mentioned embodiment is recorded, to a system oran apparatus, and a computer (or a CPU or an MPU) of the system or theapparatus reads out and executes a program code stored in the storagemedium. In this case, the program code itself read out from the storagemedium realizes the function of the above-mentioned embodiment, and thestorage medium storing the program code constitutes the presentinvention. In addition, it is needless to mention that the presentinvention includes not only the case in which the function of theabove-mentioned embodiment is realized by the computer executing theread out program code but also the case in which an operating system(OS) or the like running on the computer based on an instruction of theprogram code performs a part or all of the actual processing and thefunction of the above-mentioned embodiment is realized by theprocessing.

In addition, since the function processing of the present invention isrealized by a computer, a program code itself to be installed in thecomputer also realized the present invention. That is, claims of thepresent invention include a computer program itself for realizing thefunction processing of the present invention.

As described above, a method of supplying such a computer program of thepresent invention is not limited to causing an FD or a CD-ROM to storeit and a computer to read and install it therein. The computer programcan also be supplied by connecting to a home page of the Internet usinga browser of a client computer to download the computer program itselfor a file including a compressed automatic install function from thehome page. In addition, the supply of the computer program of thepresent invention can also be realized by dividing a program codeforming the program of the present invention into a plurality of filesand downloading each file from a different home page. That is, a WWWserver for causing a plurality of users to download a program file forrealizing the function processing of the present invention is alsoincluded in the claims of the present invention.

In addition, the program of the present invention may be encrypted andstored in a storage medium such as an FD and distribute it to users.Then, users who clear predetermined conditions are allowed to downloadkey information for decryption from a home page via the Internet and toexecute the encrypted program using the key information. Thus, it isalso possible for the users to install the program in computers torealize it.

As described above, according to the present invention, a type of aprinting apparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user isidentified, data that should be printed for specific users is obtained,a printer driver corresponding to the printing apparatus is selectedbased on the identification information, print information that shouldbe printed by the printing apparatus of the specific users is generatedfrom the data that should be printed using the selected printer driver,and the generated print information is distributed to the set-top boxesof the specific users via a cable line. Thus, it is possible for a userto obtain a print image of high resolution by a printer connected to aset-top box of a TV for home use.

In addition, according to the present invention, selection conditionsfor selecting distribution information that is obtained from specificusers in advance are managed, distribution information that should bedistributed to the specific users is collected from information obtainedvia the Internet based on the managed selection information, printinformation that should be printed by the specific users is generatedbased on the collected print information, and the generated printinformation is actively distributed to the specific users. Thus, it ispossible for a user to passively obtain a desired print image and topassively receive print data from the Internet at a designated time toprint the data.

In addition, according to the present invention, selection conditionsfor selecting desired contents information are received from specificusers, contents information that should be distributed to the specificusers is selected out of contents information collected from a pluralityof sites via the Internet, the selected contents information collectedform a plurality of sites is laid out as one file to generatedistribution information, and the generated distribution information isdistributed to the specific users. Thus, burdens on a user and costs ofexpendable supplies can be reduced by collectively laying outinformation desired by the user and existing in various locations on theInternet to generate distribution information and distributing thedistribution information.

In addition, according to the present invention, distributioninformation that should be distributed to users designated by aninformation distribution server is received, print information based onthe received distribution information is generated for each user and isdistributed to a set-top box of the user, and the set-top box transfersthe print information to a printing apparatus to be connected. Thus,active distribution processing with high security is possible fordistributing distribution information from an information providingcompany using a private line of a cable television.

In addition, according to the present invention, profile data of aplurality of users is managed using a database, selection conditions forselecting specific users to whom advertisement information should bedistributed are received, the specific users to whom the advertisementinformation should be distributed are selected based on the receivedselection conditions and the managed profile data, and the advertisementinformation is distributed to the selected specific users utilizing adigital broadcasting system. Thus, it is possible for an advertisementcompany to register advertisement information using the Internet andspecify target users to conduct advertisement and publicity activities.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

1.-40. (canceled)
 41. An information distributing method using a cableline for digital broadcasting, comprising: an identification step foridentifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to a set-topbox of each user; an obtaining step for obtaining data that should beprinted for specific users; a selection step for selecting a printerdriver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on theidentification information; a generation step for generating, using saidselected printer driver, print information that should be printed bysaid printing apparatus of the specific users from said obtained datathat should be printed; and a distribution step for distributing saidgenerated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users viasaid cable line.
 42. An information distributing method according toclaim 41, wherein said identification step identifies the type of saidprinting apparatus by recognizing a device ID of said printing apparatusto be notified by said set-top box via said cable line.
 43. Aninformation distributing method according to claim 41, wherein saidset-top box transfers the distributed print information to the printingapparatus to be connected.
 44. An information distributing methodaccording to claim 43, wherein said set op box separates a printinformation portion from said distributed information and decodes it tooriginal print information, and transfer said print information to saidprinting apparatus without displaying it on a monitor.
 45. Aninformation distributing method according to claim 41, wherein saidcable line is a two-way broad band communication network; and saiddistribution step distributes said print information as distributioninformation together with broadcast information that should be outputtedon a display to be connected to said set-top box of the user.
 46. Aninformation distributing method according to claim 45, whereindistribution information is separated into said print information andsaid broadcast information in said set-top box, and said printinformation is transferred to said printing apparatus without beingdisplayed on said display.
 47. An information distributing apparatus fordistributing information using a cable line for digital broadcasting,comprising: identifying means for identifying a type of a printingapparatus to be connected to a set-top box of each user; obtaining meansfor obtaining data that should be printed for specific users; selectingmeans for selecting a printer driver corresponding to said printingapparatus based on the identification information; generating means forgenerating, using said selected printer driver, print information thatshould be printed by said printing apparatus of the specific users fromsaid obtained data that should be printed; and distributing means fordistributing said generated print information to set-top boxes of thespecific users via said cable line.
 48. A control program stored oncomputer readable medium and to be executed in an informationdistributing apparatus for distributing information using a cable linefor digital broadcasting, said program comprising: an identificationstep for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to aset-top box of each user; an obtaining step for obtaining data thatshould be printed for specific users; a selection step for selecting aprinter driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on theidentification information; a generation step for generating, using saidselected printer driver, print information that should be printed bysaid printing apparatuses of the specific users from said obtained datathat should be printed; and a distribution step for distributing saidgenerated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users viasaid cable line.
 49. A computer-readable storage medium storing acontrol program to be executed in an information distributing apparatusfor distributing information using a cable line for digitalbroadcasting, wherein the control program comprises: an identificationstep for identifying a type of a printing apparatus to be connected to aset-top box of each user; an obtaining step for obtaining data thatshould be printed for specific users; a selection step for selecting aprinter driver corresponding to said printing apparatus based on saididentification information; a generation step for generating, using saidselected printer driver, print information that should be printed bysaid printing apparatuses of the specific users from said obtained datathat should be printed; and a distribution step for distributing saidgenerated print information to set-top boxes of the specific users viasaid cable line.
 50. An information distributing method of distributingprint information via a cable network for a digital broadcasting systemto a user who has a set-top box for transferring received printinformation to a connected printing apparatus, comprising: a receivingstep for receiving distribution information that should be distributedto a user designated by an information distribution server; a generationstep for generating print information based on said receiveddistribution information for each user; and a distribution step fordistributing said print information generated for each user to saidset-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.
 51. Aninformation distributing method according to claim 50, wherein saiddistribution step distributes said print information after scramblingit.
 52. An information distributing method according to claim 50,wherein said information distribution server is a server of a bank thatdesires distribution of a use record as distribution information.
 53. Aninformation distributing apparatus for distributing print informationvia a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who hasa set-top box for transferring received print information to a connectedprinting apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receivingdistribution information that should be distributed to a user designatedby an information distribution server; generating means for generatingprint information based on said received distribution information foreach user; and distributing means for distributing said printinformation generated for each user to said set-top box of thedesignated user utilizing said cable network.
 54. A control programstored on a computer-readable medium and to be executed in aninformation distributing apparatus for distributing print informationvia a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who hasa set-top box for transferring received print information to a connectedprinting apparatus, said program comprising: a receiving step forreceiving distribution information that should be distributed to a userdesignated by an information distribution server; a generation step forgenerating print information based on said received distributioninformation for each user; and a distribution step for distributing saidprint information generated for each user to said set-top box of thedesignated user utilizing said cable network.
 55. A computer-readablestorage medium storing a control program to be executed in aninformation distributing apparatus for distributing print informationvia a cable network for a digital broadcasting system to a user who hasa set-top box for transferring received print information to a connectedprinting apparatus, wherein the control program comprises: a receivingstep for receiving distribution information that should be distributedto a user designated by an information distribution server, a generationstep for generating print information based on said receiveddistribution information for each user; and a distribution step fordistributing said print information generated for each user to saidset-top box of the designated user utilizing said cable network.
 56. Adigital broadcasting system comprising a server and a head end fordistributing multiplexed broadcast information and print information toa set-top box via a cable network, the system comprising: a user profiledatabase for storing identification of a printer connected to theset-top box, and a printer driver database for storing a printer drivercorresponding to the identification of the printer, wherein said serverrefers said user profile database for the identification of the printerconnected to the set-top box of a destination of the print information,reads, from said printer driver database, the printer drivercorresponding to the identification of the printer connected to theset-top box, and converts, using the printer driver, the printinformation to be distributed to the set-top box, and said head enddistributes the converted print information to the set-up box to whichthe printer is connected.
 57. A digital broadcasting system according toclaim 56, wherein said server converts the print information using theprint driver corresponding to the identification of the printerconnected to each of the set-top box.
 58. A digital broadcasting systemaccording to claim 56, wherein said server converts the printinformation selected among the print information provided from aproviding server connected via the internet.
 59. A digital broadcastingsystem according to claim 41, wherein said server converts a layout ofthe print information selected among the print information provided froma plurality of providing servers.
 60. An information distributing methodin a digital broadcasting system for distributing multiplexed broadcastinformation and print information to a set-top box via a cable network,the method comprising: a reading step of reading, from a printer driverdatabase, a printer driver corresponding to identification of theprinter stored in a user profile database referred by a destination ofthe print information; a converting step of converting, using theprinter driver, the print information to be distributed to the set-topbox; and a distributing step of distributing the converted printinformation to the set-up box to which the printer is connected.
 61. Aninformation distributing method according to claim 60, wherein the printinformation is converted in said converting step using the print drivercorresponding to the identification of the printer corrected to each ofthe set-top box.
 62. An information distributing method according toclaim 60, wherein the print information is selected among the printinformation provided from a providing server connected via the internet.63. An information distributing method according to claim 60, wherein alayout of the print information is selected among the print informationprovided from a plurality of providing server.